Displaying-products-and-selling-at-shows

My daughter helped me pack up for the show and she labeled every box as to what was in each box.
This made the setting up and the tearing down after the show so much easier.

It is also a good idea to have signs up that tell customers what you have and give some details too because an informed customer is more likely to become a loyal customer.

I used baskets and wooden boxes to hold my products.
They are very natural so they fit my overall theme.
I had a few identical boxes and used those for displaying similar types of items.
I also had a little variety in types of baskets... that I used, but they were still baskets and wooden boxes so they fit in.

I want the focus to be on my all natural products - so a pleasing display is one that gets their attention AND allows the products to be the star at the table.

If you make & sell soaps, lotions, balms, or herbs... - read this before you make ANY claims about them http://southernsoapers.com/news/soapmaking/are-you-a-drug-dealer/
Kelly has written up a good guideline to follow.

I printed signs (I display them at my shop and at shows... ) which are in rather big letters that state
I am not a doctor, so, by law, I cannot give out medical advice.

You, the consumer, have to make up your own mind based on your own research and/or the advice of a medical professional.

I cannot make any therapeutic claims about my products when asked "What should I use for ..." My products are not intended to cure ailments.

A doctor, pharmacist, or chiropractor... may give natural recommendations.

Also, research the use of herbs, butters, oils, goat milk, resins... .
* Don't forget to consider any possible allergies or medicine interactions.

Then I went on to say that my products use no petro-chemicals, no dyes, nothing fake... and that I hope they will try them and like them and tell me which is their favorite... and I had my business info on them.

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I have had 1 customer so far from this and hope to get more.

Well, I am always myself and that has to be good enough ;)

My biggest problems with them (business rivals) are:

1.) Many of them call their items all natural or organic... when they are not really so they can sell their stuff cheaper... and it can make folks wonder why my all natural products cost more.

2.) Many of them might have all natural items (or not), BUT then they make claims about their products such as this soap or cream... will cure your dandruff...
- making claims like this is not allowed by law (see my note about that in the "Be Careful" section above) and so because I am trying to be legal yet honest - I do lose some sales to these sellers who exploit the fact that the FDA is busy and might not get to them to tell them to cut it out.

3.) Most buyers (and many sellers) have no idea what is what as far as all natural and how much work it really is to create something that way...
I believe most sellers are basically good people who think they are doing the right thing and think they are helping folks, but calling something natural when it has hot pink dye in it, or a fragrance oil, or hexane... is not helping anyone - especially the natural product industry.
They are slitting their own throats and making it harder for the rest of us.

So, what can I do ?
Do I sit here and get upset about it ? - Sometimes, yes, I do - LOL

But, mostly I remember that I have a good business and many loyal customers AND that I am doing it the right way even if it is much more difficult.

I also, work hard to get the word out about what I do and why i do things the way I do... via my Squidoo writings and my websites, blogs and these forums...

I AM my brand - the two are the same.
I think in the end that will win out.

So, in answer to the question - be yourself because you are attracting the right kind of clients/customers that way and I'm sure they and you are a natural "fit".
If you were to try to be fake to get more clients/customers - it might work, but perhaps they would not be a good "fit" and therefore the relationships with them would not be good or feel right to either party.

* All of us have to put on a little "front" at times if we are tired or having a bad day... BUT overall, being ourselves is the best way I think.

Look for Gypsy Queen Media on eCRATER to find these great books as well as many more + tapes too.
She will combine your order to save you shipping money IF YOU EMAIL HER FIRST with what you want. ecrater doesn''t automatically combine shipping correctly - so if you are getting more than one item, let her know so she can get a total for you.

How to stand up and speak well in business
by: Frank Snell

The quick and easy way to effective speaking, dale carnegie, revision by dorothycarnegie of public speaking and influencing men in business
by: dale carnegie and dorothy carnegie

Business communication today
by: Courtland L Bovee